Thursday, December 20, 2007

the above video is what i think jamming is.

i guess i'll never understand it. for those of you that know me, you know that i'm not exactly musically inclined. despite the bulk of my friends being lovers of music... you will not find me scanning old vinyl at boo boo's or pre-ordering kanye's new cd, and you def will not hear me singing, let alone playing any sort of musical instrument.

perhaps you could trace it back to my childhood. i'm sure my parents (like all parents) loved to say, "she's so musical!" yeah, like what kid doesn't start moving and smiling when music comes on. despite my general apathy, i do recognize it is a beautiful thing.

it could have began in those early elementary days when i was blacklisted to the triangle. i think once in fourth grade when it was an option to "be in the band," i toyed with idea of picking up the sax, or was it the flute? fast forward to sixth grade- my friends and i (by default) always had the radio tuned to sly 96- for all of the day's hits. everyone would be talking about the new kids, and hammer, sir mix a lot... i even remember when my dad took me to the warehouse to buy my first cd- i thought it was a pretty big deal as he slid across the $15 bucks for the new (perhaps only?) young mc. and of course, the big concerts at the mid-state fair. i was there screaming my head off with the rest of em... boyz to men, montell jordan... (you get the picture)

i also recall a young teenager locked in her room as she listened to her brothers too short cd- and being absolutely terrified, disgusted and enthralled all at the same time.

yet as the high school days passed and my superficial taste for music continued to wane... i saw my friends becoming increasingly interested... they were always talking about the latest songs, and some to my amazement were even in a band! then i entered college, where it was really cool to be into something called "indy" music- i don't even know if that's how you spell it... and you didn't go to concerts anymore... you went to "shows." i think it was around this time, i stopped even trying to pretend to be interested. i found kjug and the dial hasn't changed.

yet i do admit, every once in a while i find myself so intrigued by this music thing.. especially those that play it. the other night i happened to find myself at the clubhouse in los osos... (i really wish i could tell you more about this osos hot spot- but its kind of on the dl..) so anyway, we walk up, forgetting that its a friday night (cause all days are the same when you have kids, and all nights are the same when you live in los osos). we walk up to discover that there is "live music." wow! i guess that's supposed to be a good thing. anyway amidst a firestone (on draft) and some good missionary talk with zurby and lealah, i find myself absolutely captivated by these two guys playing music. i've seen this before many times... it happens when no one is singing and the guys are just playing their instruments- and they are just sooo in the zone-- just jamming i guess. but i guess it's the look on their faces- it's like what they are creating is so powerful and passionate - like they're just going to burst with joy. so in my little finite mind, i'm trying to liken it to something i've experienced- like draining a 3 at the buzzer, or giving birth... or if we're along those lines... sometimes it almost seems like it could be as good as sex.

so all you musicians- could you shed some light on this for me... cause if its anything like those above things... i just might have to pick it up- any openings for the triangle out there?

5 comments:

Jenn said...

Honestly Holls, I think us musician types are just as confused by it as you are. Every civilization throughout history has created music that expressed where they were in history and what they believed in. The psychological manifestations only tell us that something does indeed happen on a very basic level when we listen to music. Obviously. But "why" is the real question. I suspect that those who can't sleep without knowing the answer are those who invest so much time in honing their musical abilities. The sad realization is that we will never find the Sirens...which makes music an elusive mistress at best.

-Trav

Jenn said...

Holls- How can you say you aren't musically inclined. Anyone who has "My humps" as their ringtone..totally know what they are doing.

Jenn

Anonymous said...

Dude, right now she has Soulja Boy - 'Crank That' as her ringtone.

b-dad.

kellieacosta said...

I just downloaded "Crank That" for my 13yr old cousin's ipod! By a soldier? must be patriotic.

Regarding the power of music (probably not even close to the depth of travis' comment!) - but I have been there...zoning....but more so when I am ripping on my violin and I feel completely expressed without saying a word. (It's like that for some dance for me a well). In fact, I couldn't come up with the right words anyhow- only music/movement will do. But when it comes to most streamline music nowadays, I can't remember who sang what - a clue - i think that I am just not powerfully effected by what I am hearing and/or that I just don't get it (what the musician gets and portays). make any sense? i guess we all have different points which are touched by different mediums. i wonder (and wish) that we could pick and choose which effect us!
miss you guys!
that said, i think you could come up with the words to express yourself in ways that many cannot - you're a great writer!

Holls said...

Trav- wow, that's deep. i never really thought about music on that level... but i guess when i think about it,music like art at its root is simply an expression. in any event, thanks for the insight..
and Kell- i would love to hear you rip on that violin- did i ever tell you i once was sure that it was my destiny to play the violin- it lasted as long as looking for one on ebay... miss you girl.